Announcement

The 111th edition of the Chicago Auto Show officially closed to the public on Monday, Feb. 18, concluding a successful 10-day run of the nation’s largest and best-attended auto show. The Chicago Automobile Trade Association, producer of the show, reported a bump in attendance this year despite the slowing market.

“As the nation’s largest consumer show, we know people come here to shop,” said Ray Scarpelli Jr., the 2019 Chicago Auto Show chairman. “According to Foresight Research, nearly 70 percent of adults who visit the Chicago Auto Show are in the market to purchase a vehicle within 12 months. That’s what makes the Chicago show stand out from other shows and experiential events, further demonstrating the importance of automaker participation.”

The show’s impact was palpable at the dealership level; local new-car dealers reported a noticeable increase in customers following the show’s strong opening weekend.

“There’s no doubt that we saw a big uptick in traffic and sales at our dealerships,” said Kevin Keefe, owner of Brilliance Honda and Brilliance Subaru. “The activity at the stores was noticeably higher the weekend after the Chicago Auto Show opened to the public.”

“We actually had more customers than sales representatives on the show’s closing Saturday,” added Jason Roberts, general manager of Advantage Toyota of River Oaks.

“In the end, we want the Chicago Auto Show to be judged on the number of new-vehicle sales it generates,” said Chicago Auto Show General Manager Dave Sloan.

The longest-running auto show in North America once again featured more than 1 million square feet of top-tier exhibits by global automakers, 20 brand-new vehicle introductions that made their worldwide or national debut and a host of interactive exhibits and test drive opportunities.

Land Rover offered a brand-new indoor test track – the Above and Beyond Tour – which allowed guests to experience the full Land Rover lineup, including the Range Rover Plug-In Hybrid and Range Rover Velar. The indoor off-road course offered commanding views of the show floor and challenged drivers to explore both their own limits and those of the full family of Land Rover vehicles.

Ram Trucks also brought an all-new track, the Ram Truck Territory, an interactive ride experience with a 28,000-square-foot in-truck adventure to demonstrate the power and capabilities of the Ram Truck lineup.

Nearly 1,000 cars, trucks and SUVs were on display, and consumers casted their votes for their favorite in five different categories for the 14th annual Best of Show balloting.

The vehicles that rose to the top included:

Best All-New Production: Jeep Gladiator
Best Concept Vehicle: Lexus LC Convertible
Best Green Vehicle: Audi e-tron
Best Exhibit: Jeep
Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway: Bugatti Chiron
Planning is already underway for the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, which will be held from Feb. 8-17.

For more information on the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com. For high resolution photos and b-roll, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com/media/online-newsroom-gallery.

About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2020 public show is Feb. 8-17. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com

The NGA Show brings together independent retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food/CPG manufacturers and service providers to learn, engage, share, and network.
http://www.thengashow.com/the-nga-show-2019

The sixth HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, which showcases jewellery raw materials, will take place at AsiaWorld-Expo from 26 Feb to 2 March, while the 36th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which specialises in finished fine jewellery, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai from 28 Feb to 4 March. This year, the two shows will feature a record of more than 4,600 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions, once again forming the world’s largest jewellery marketplace.

Jewellery exports grow 13.3% in 2018, but challenging year ahead
HKTDC Acting Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: “Though the Sino-US trade conflict has been looming large over all sectors and industries, Hong Kong exports of fine jewellery showed healthy growth of 13.3% year on year to reach HK$57 billion in 2018. Exports to the United States, Hong Kong’s largest jewellery export market, were particularly robust, growing by 18.1%.” However, Mr Chau pointed out that the single-month figure for December showed the total value of fine jewellery exports falling 12% year on year, indicating that the impact of the Sino-US trade conflict on exports is beginning to be felt. Compounded by other unfavourable factors such as escalating geopolitical conflicts, Mr Chau reminded businesses to be ready for a potential slowdown in global economic growth in 2019.

Buying missions organised to help address economic uncertainty
Mr Chau added that economic uncertainties led to the total value of Hong Kong’s exports of jewellery raw materials, including pearls, gems and semi-gems, declining by 17.6% in 2018, although there was still satisfactory growth in some major markets, including Mainland China (+8%), Belgium (+19.2%) and Israel (+24.4%). “To help the industry grasp more business opportunities, the HKTDC will organise 120 buying missions, comprising more than 8,200 companies from 75 countries and regions, to visit the shows this year,” Mr Chau explained. “These companies will consist of department stores, speciality shops, chain stores and online stores, with 700 coming from the US and 5,700 companies visiting from emerging markets. This will help the industry expand into emerging markets to deal with the unstable global economy.”

Worldwide support from industry bodies and jewellery associations
The two shows continue to receive support from industry organisations and jewellery associations from around the world. A total of 38 pavilions, including those from Australia, Mainland China, France, Germany, Italy, Myanmar, India and the US, will set up group pavilions at the shows. Various jewellery organisations will continue to set up their own pavilions, including ACODES from Colombia, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, International Coloured Gems Association, Israel Diamond Institute, New York Diamond Dealers Club, Tanzanite Foundation and the Gem & Jewellery Trade Association of Thailand, among others.

The Avenue of Jewellery Creators will be set up at the Jewellery Show by the Asia Pacific Creator Association for the first time, introducing jewellery designs created by Hong Kong and mainland designers. Also new at the Jewellery Show are pavilions from Mexico and Indonesia, while groups from Donghai in Jiangsu province and Dongguan in Guangdong province will debut as exhibitors. The Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show will welcome the participation of the Australian Opal Association and the Beihai Bureau of Commerce from the mainland for the first time, broadening the show’s international outlook.

Japan as first-time partner country to showcase rare pearls
With support from the Japan External Trade Organisation and the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, the HKTDC is collaborating with the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association and the Japan Pearl Promotion Society to invite Japan as this year’s partner country for the first time. A Japan Pearl Jewellery Pavilion and a Japan Pearl Pavilion will be set up at the Jewellery Show and the Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show respectively, featuring some 130 exhibitors. The two major Japanese pearl organisations will also host a media event on the first day of the Jewellery Show (28 Feb) to introduce exquisite pearl jewellery from Japan.

Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show runs from 26 Feb to 2 March
This is the sixth straight year that the HKTDC has run the two shows in parallel in separate venues. The Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, which specialises in the raw materials used in the jewellery industry, will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo. The show is organised into different themed zones, including the Hall of Fine Diamonds, which showcases prime quality diamonds of different shapes, cuts, grades and rare colours. The Treasures of Nature zone displays various glittering precious gemstones, semi-precious gems and other natural raw materials, while the Treasures of Ocean zone houses the highest quality pearls from Tahiti, the South Seas and other pearl-producing areas around the world.

Among the impressively large number of special exhibits on display are:
1. Hong Kong company Novel Collection Ltd (Booth No: AWE 2-Q01) will feature a pear-shaped, pink-coloured 5.01-carat diamond with unique cutting valued at HK$46.8 million.

3. Shaun Gems International (Booth No: AWE 1-A16) from the United States will display a matched pair of natural sapphires of vivid blue colour, weighing a total of 27.76 carats and valued at more than HK$3 million.

Jewellery Show runs from 28 Feb to 4 March
The Jewellery Show, which opens next Thursday (28 Feb), will feature a wide array of finished jewellery and exquisite craftsmanship. A total of 38 renowned jewellery brands will converge at the Hall of Fame to showcase their collections. Returning brand names include Lao Feng Xiang from the mainland, Japan’s Kuwayama and Italy’s Giorgio Visconti, while new exhibitors include Hong Kong’s Asia Star, Japan’s Kawamura, Russia’s Kabarovsky and the UK’s JT Jewellery Theatre.

The Hall of Extraordinary will display skillfully crafted, valuable and unique jewellery pieces from some 100 companies, including:
1. Hong Kong’s Jadmily Jewelery (Booth No: CEC GH-B05) will feature a jade necklace valued at HK$64 million. The oval centre stone of the necklace is a jadeite cabochon extracted from a top-tier ancient mine in Myanmar. The warm, smooth touch of elegance is illuminated with dazzling diamonds. The centre stone weighs 51.48g.

2. Foo Hang Jewellery of Hong Kong (Booth No: CEC GH-D16) will showcase a diamond jewellery set worth more than HK$13 million. The centrepiece of the set is a marquise shaped diamond of 10.04 carats valued at over HK$8 million. The rare marquise cut is testament to the superb craftsmanship that makes the diamond even more dazzling.

3. One of the exhibits of Hong Kong company Belford Jewellery (Booth No: CEC CH-L01) is its “Lava Collection”. One of the jewellery pieces in this collection is an orange-red Mexican fire opal that is uniquely set against a number of coloured diamonds to imitate flowing lava. The piece is valued at HK$345,000.

4. Another Hong Kong company, Famous Group Ltd (Booth No: CEC GH-G05), will display a sapphire diamond set valued at over HK$10 million. The sapphire stones, with a total weight of more than 180 carats, are adorned with 128 carats of diamonds to bring out the elegance.

The IT Solutions for Jewellery zone that debuted last year will return to help buyers boost their competitiveness by tapping into the latest technologies for use in the designing, manufacturing, quality monitoring and selling of jewellery. The new Amber Jewellery zone is introduced to address the growing market demand, while other themed zones include Antique & Vintage Jewellery Galleria, Designer Galleria, Hall of Jade Jewellery, Treasures of Craftsmanship, Hall of Time, Wedding Bijoux and World of Glamour. In the Hall 3E entrance of the Jewellery Show, supported by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, the “ARTRIUM” will showcase the company’s unique collection of precious jewellery.

Networking activities to facilitate business exchange
A host of activities and events, including jewellery parades, networking sessions, buyer/exhibitor forums and seminars, will be held during the shows to facilitate business exchange. One key event is the cocktail reception and Jewellery Gala Dinner held on the first day of the Jewellery Show (28 Feb). The theme for the gala dinner will be “Dionysus”, after the Greek god of wine, with a menu personally prepared by Edward Voon, Executive Chef of French restaurant LE PAN. The dinner will be attended by actresses Carat Cheung and Toby Chan. The award presentation ceremony for the biennial International Jewellery Design Excellence Award – often referred to as the “Oscars of the jewellery industry” – will be held during the cocktail reception, with the “Champion of the Champions” being announced.

During the show period, the HKTDC will stage demonstrations of jewellery craftsmanship and themed seminars to update industry players on the latest market trends, production technologies and product styles. For example, experts from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will conduct a seminar on “Fancy-coloured Melee Diamonds and their Identification” (26 Feb). The HKTDC will also hold a jewellery industry forum on 1 March covering topics such as the forecasting of jewellery trends, how jewellery design software will revolutionise the design of jewellery products, and insights into the impact of 4K 3D printing technologies and mobile commerce, with a representative from Tencent explaining how artificial intelligence and big data can be used to increase sales. Other seminar topics include the latest developments in the internationalisation of the Fei Cui standard (2 March), observations on sapphires from Mogok, Myanmar (3 March), and gemology studies and market analysis of Myanmar rubies (3 March). Details can be found on the show websites.

In addition, to identify design talents for the industry and demonstrate the high calibre of Hong Kong jewellery designers to international buyers, the HKTDC has joined hands with four local jewellery industry bodies to organise the 20th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition. The theme of the competition this year is “Be Connected, Be United”, attracting around 200 quality entries. The finalists’ designs will be on display in the Hall 1D lobby of the HKCEC during the show period.

To make it convenient for buyers to visit both shows, a complimentary shuttle bus service will be provided by the HKTDC between AsiaWorld-Expo and downtown (including the HKCEC in Wan Chai). Please visit the show websites for details.

About HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit:www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

The biennial Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS) is shaping up to be the world’s 3rd largest exhibition dedicated to the machine tools industry. This year’s TIMTOS will open at the newly inaugurated Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, becoming the very first show to be held at the brand-new venue and gather a record 1,230 companies to exhibit their latest machine tool offers. Together, they will use 7,000 booth spaces across Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Halls 1 and 2, as well as TWTC Hall 1.

Taiwantrade.com, the leading business-to-business sourcing platform of Taiwan, will exhibit at booth D0123 of TWTC Hall 1 and the 4F R455 Lounge of Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. During the 4-9 March show period, visitors will be introduced to a selection of new products from the website’s top supplier members and Taiwantrade.com’s free sourcing services, which are aimed at helping businesses everywhere connect with the quality and reliable suppliers in Taiwan with speed and ease.

For buyers looking to find new offers from Taiwan before visiting the show, the Taiwantrade.com smart machinery section (https://machinery.taiwantrade.com/smart-machinery) provides detailed information on more than 4,700 excellent companies and over 56,000 product catalogs in smart machine tools, parts and automation. Buyers visiting TIMTOS 2019 can also apply to the website’s “Meet Suppliers Online” service (https://www.taiwantrade.com/business/MeetSupplierOnline) to connect with the suppliers via video conference before attending the event.

“There is a full-fledged machine tool industry supply chain in Taiwan, complete with the capability to implement robotics, sensors, Internet of Things, and Big Data applications to achieve more flexible, rapid and smarter production lines,” said TAITRA President & CEO Walter Yeh.

“The academic, government and private sectors have been actively investing in the research and development of key components innovation, artificial intelligence, human-machine collaboration, system integration, and production automation,” Yeh added.

Taiwan is currently the world’s 4th largest exporter of machine tools and plays a key role in the highly competitive global market. Between January and December 2018, Taiwan’s machine tool industry registered more than US$3.6 billion in export shipments, increasing 9.5% year-on-year.

Held biannually by TAITRA and TAMI, TIMTOS is a major international platform for some of the largest machine tool companies from Taiwan and around the world to introduce their latest innovations. This year’s TIMTOS will focus on “Industry 4.0 & Smart Manufacturing” and “Artificial Technologies” with a series of events including exhibition, procurement meeting, and product launch.

The 2019 TIMTOS Summit will further highlight the industry’s hottest topics, including “Machine Intelligence and AIoT”, “Additive Manufacturing”, “Automotive Manufacturing Revolution”, and “Innovation in Aerospace Manufacturing”. The summit will gather top executives from industry giants including AWS, SAP, DMG MORI, Optomec, Dassault, Heidenhain, Siemens and ABB to share their insights.

With a fully loaded lineup packed with new product exhibits and events, TIMTOS 2019 is a must-visit event for the world’s machine tool industry professionals. More than 50,000 visitors attended the 2017 edition of TIMTOS.

The leading professionals responsible for delivering the luxury cruising experience will gather at the Miami Beach Convention from June 18-20, 2019 for the world’s first event focusing exclusively on the interior design, architecture and outfitting needed to inspire one of the tourist industry’s most discerning clienteles.

Cruise Ship Interiors Expo, will attract the global cruise industry’s interior design, refurbishment and outfitting specialists. Petu Kummala, Director of Interior Design at Carnival, says, “Cruise Ship Interiors Expo is an exciting and needed addition to the cruise industry’s Design and Architecture which will provide a source for designers and suppliers to connect, exchange ideas and see the latest products that can be used on future projects.”

The event includes a two-day Conference program that has attracted top tier speakers from key cruise industry innovators, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Virgin Voyages, and designers from Studio Dado, YSA Design and BG Studio, among others.

Toby Walters, chief executive, Cruise Ship Interiors Expo, says, “Significant growth in cruise ship passenger numbers and the attraction of new nationalities and groups to cruising has fueled a rapid transformation in marine interior and outfitting. The conference program reflects that dynamism, kicking off with a leaders’ debate that will be followed by sessions focusing on sustainability at sea, color predictions, future design trends, and passenger flow, among others.”

The parallel Cruise Ship Interiors Expo will offer visitors the chance to investigate the developments that are changing the cruising experience for guests, showcasing more than 250 companies from the design, furnishing, flooring and decking, lighting, fabrics and entertainment technology worlds.

Walters adds: “Our advisory board includes some of the leading lights of the industry, ensuring that the conference program and the spread of exhibitors are right on point for professionals making their living from Florida’s thriving cruise business, and for anyone interested in travel and lifestyle choices.”

Cruise Ship Interiors Expo is free to attend during business hours, June 18-20, 2019. The event is also co-located with Marine Catering Expo, where galley and restaurant stakeholders can meet with qualified buyers from the passenger ship sector.

For more information or to register, visit www.cruiseshipinteriors-expo.com

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) today announced that registration is open for the fifth annual CES Asia, the premier consumer technology event in the Asian market. Designed for the Asia Pacific region and beyond, CES Asia 2019 will showcase transformative technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, drones, retail and eCommerce, robotics, and vehicle tech.

CES Asia 2019 is one of the fastest growing trade shows in Asia and is on track to see another record-breaking year. Global brands like 3M, Audio-Technica, Changhong, Continental, Digital China, Dow, Fossil, Garmin, Haier, Hisense, Honda, Huawei, Konka, NavInfo, OnStar, OtterBox, Skyworth, Suning, Wacom and ZEISS have confirmed to return, joined by first-time CES Asia exhibitors Denso, SF-Express, and Sonos. The show will showcase the latest technologies from over 25 countries and regions including: China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

“Every business must embrace technology to succeed,” said John T. Kelley, senior director, international programs and show director, CES Asia. “We are kicking off registration today and seeing tremendous growth and diversity among the companies who have committed to exhibiting at CES Asia 2019.”

CES Asia 2019 is expected to cover more than 65,000 gross square meters (32,500 net square meters) of exhibit space, a 26 percent increase from last year, and feature 550 exhibiting companies, including more than 125 startups. The show represents the full technology ecosystem with innovations spanning 20 product categories. Total attendance is projected to reach over 50,000 with representation from 70 countries, regions and territories, including more than 1,200 members of the media. Conference programming will bring together visionary speakers in more than 45 sessions, including top CEOs and senior-level executives presenting on the keynote stage.

WeChat registration for CES Asia 2019 is now available. Follow us on WeChat (ID: CESAsia_II) to register.

Owned and produced by the International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co., Ltd. and co-produced by Shanghai Intex, CES Asia 2019 will run from June 11-13 in Shanghai, China. The premier consumer technology event in Asia, CES Asia showcases major brands and innovative companies across several vertical markets in the Asian marketplace.

For the latest show news, information, photos, b-roll and more, visit CESAsia.com.

About CES Asia
Owned and produced by the International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. and co-produced by Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd (Shanghai Intex), CES Asia is the premier event for the consumer technology industry, showcasing the full breadth and depth of the innovation value-chain in the Asian marketplace. Key global businesses come to this event to grow and reinforce their brand by showcasing the latest products and technologies to consumer tech industry executives, foreign buyers and international media. Attendees have exclusive access to some of the largest brands from China and around the world, while celebrating the innovation that defines the consumer technology sector.

About International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. and CTA
International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a trade association representing the $398 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies – 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world’s best known brands – enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES® – the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA’s industry services.

About Shanghai Intex
Taken independent in July 2016, Shanghai Intex Exhibition (Co., Ltd.) was originally founded in 1995 as the pioneering exhibition organizing business of Intex Shanghai, the first joint venture venue management business in Shanghai. Shanghai Intex is jointly overseen by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shanghai and PNO Exhibitions, giving it the perfect combination of domestic and international resources. Over the last 20 years, Shanghai Intex has organized more than 100 tradeshows and over 1000 conferences, with a sum total show space in excess of 2 million square meters. Shanghai Intex runs a number of internationally renowned exhibitions covering the music industry, healthcare, lifestyle, advanced manufacturing, public transportation, floriculture, consumer electronics, technology and more.

This morning, the 116th North American International Toy Fair opened its doors at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City to more than 30,000 global play professionals, who made the trip to New York City to view hundreds of thousands of ground-breaking and creative toys and games that will be available in time for Holiday ’19.

Toy Fair New York, which takes place Saturday through Tuesday (February 16 to 19), is the Western Hemisphere’s largest and most important toy trade show, representing the innovation, passion, and vitality of the North American and global toy marketplace. Manufacturers, distributors, importers, retailers, licensors, inventors, and other toy industry representatives from more than 100 countries are at Toy Fair to strike lucrative deals and scout the latest toy, game, and youth entertainment trends. Produced by The Toy Association, the sold-out show is a massive celebration of toys and play, boasting 447,000 net square feet of exhibit space – the equivalent of more than seven football fields filled with toys.

“The global toy community has again convened for Toy Fair New York. With a sold-out show of more than 1,000 exhibitors showcasing tens of thousands of playthings from innovative toys to fresh takes on classics, retail buyers are discovering the toys and trends that will drive the $28 billion U.S. toy market and markets around the world,” said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “From lucrative business deals and awe-inspiring products to actionable education sessions, networking, and a good bit of celebration, New York City and The Toy Association welcome everyone in the toy and play industry!”

Toy Fair is divided into distinct product zones to help media, buyers, and other guests find exactly what they need, from action figures and arts & crafts to games, dolls, educational toys, outdoor playthings, and everything in between. Nearly 200 first-time exhibitors will be at Toy Fair; many of these companies will be showcasing their unique, never-before-seen products in the Launch Pad section (Hall 1E) of the show.

The show also will feature enhanced educational sessions and engaging special events held throughout the four days, including a toy trends briefing; licensing seminars; toy safety and compliance forums; global trade and market expansion research presentations; roundtables, panels, and interactive workshops for the inventor and designer community; and much more.

Registration is mandatory for access to Toy Fair 2019; verification of media and buyer credentials is required. Sign up on-site during show hours. Visit ToyFairNY.com or download the free Toy Fair mobile app. Visit the Toy Fair Online Press Room and follow Toy Fair on Twitter (#TFNY) and The Toy Association’s Facebook page for up-to-the-minute show information.

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR www.ToyFairNY.com
Toy Fair is an annual event that is produced by The Toy Association. The largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere, Toy Fair takes place each February at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The show brings together more than 1,000 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sales agents to showcase hundreds of thousands of toys and youth entertainment products to retail outlets and trade guests from 100 countries.

ABOUT THE TOY ASSOCIATION www.ToyAssociation.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $110.9 billion, and its 1000+ members drive the annual $28 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play, and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development to consumers and media. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned North American International Toy Fair and Fall Toy Preview; advocates on behalf of members around the world; sustains the Canadian The Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard.

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, which came to a close this past weekend, continues to grow and strengthen its position as the world’s leading event for Scandinavian design. Of the visitors to this year’s fair, 31.5 % came from abroad, representing 99 different countries. Interest and participation in Stockholm Design Week are also continuing to grow, and this year a record-breaking 427 events were arranged throughout the city.

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, Photographer: Gustav Kaiser

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is strengthening its position on the international design scene. The percentage of international visits reached 31.5 percent, which is an increase of 0.5 percent compared to last year. Visitors came from 99 different countries, led by Norway, Finland, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

“It is fun to see that we are continuing to grow within international design. We are also very pleased about all the positive signals we have received from both national and international visitors and exhibitors. Many have commented on the high quality level at the fair and the open and pleasant atmosphere. It is a meeting place for business, but we also fulfill an important social function. Our efforts to establish Stockholm Design Week – to add content to the visit to the fair and strengthen Stockholm has a design destination – has generated fantastic results. There were over 400 events during the week this year, which is twice as many as last year,” says Cecilia Nyberg, Project Area Manager for Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair and Stockholm Design Week.

Comments about the fair:

”It´s the one and only interesting fair in Scandinavia and I have a lot of clients here that I want to meet. I really like Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, it´s compact and nice and the quality level is really high. The atmosphere is very good so it´s always a pleasure being here.” Richard Hutten, designer, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

”We are here because we have most of our customers here. Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is still the best fair in Europe and definitely the place to see Scandinavian design. And it´s the most social fair in the world.” Ove Rogne, CEO Northern, Norway

”I think I´ve been here basically every year since the mid 80ies. The best of being here is meeting all the people, you never know which kind of contact you pick up here. For me this is the one time of the year when you can be sure to meet all your friends and colleagues. It´s an amazing place to be, we take all our customers here and everybody is also exited of everything and it´s a lot of gossip and things going on. So it´s really, really a social event.” Gert Wingårdh, architect, Göteborg, Sweden

The next Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair will be held February 4–8, 2020, at Stockholmsmässan.

For more information, please visit www.stockholmfurniturefair.com or contact:

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is the world’s leading event for Scandinavian furniture and lighting design. Domestic and international visitors will find the most comprehensive selection of Scandinavian furniture, office furnishings, design, textiles, lighting and other interior furnishings for both homes and public spaces. Stockholm Design Week is also running parallel to Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. www.stockholmdesignweek.com

In support to the country’s commitment towards water sustainability and energy security, the 5th edition of Water Philippines Expo and 2nd edition of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE EE) Philippines 2019 are coming back on 20-22 March 2019 to once again showcase a 2-in-1 mega event under one roof.

Water Philippines 2019 Expo — the country’s fastest-growing B2B water technology event is presenting the best water technologies and solutions for water supply, sanitation, industrial wastewater and purification. RE EE Philippines 2019, on the other hand, is bringing thousands of opportunities to develop the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors by promoting new advancements on solar power, energy efficiency and green technology. Over 500 exhibiting companies–including 9 international and regional pavilions from mainland China, European Union, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands and USA will converge to showcase their technologies and innovations to an expected 10,000+ trade visitors from different parts of the globe.

As emphasized by Mr. Dexter Deyto, General Manager of UBM Exhibitions Philippines, “An increase in economic activities gives rise to higher water and energy demand, thus creating more challenges in the Philippines’ water and energy security. One of the main goals of Water Philippines 2019 and RE EE Philippines 2019 is to encourage both the government and private sectors to strive more in exploring various new methods and find the best solutions in addressing our water and energy challenges.”

For the first time, the Environment & Water business mission under the EU Business Avenues in South East Asia Programme will bring over 50 European companies to Water Philippines 2019 Expo. The EU Business Avenues in South East Asia Programme is an EU-funded initiative aims to help European companies establish long-lasting business collaborations through matchmaking and business support services. A bigger presence of 15 participating companies from Singapore is also highly-anticipated. In addition, K-Water from Korea will also bring 10 participating companies in their pavilion.

The 3-day event will also feature a high-level Water Philippines 2019 Conference with the theme “Addressing Climate Change Through Resilient, Sustainable Water and Sanitation Development” in which participants can earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. There are also free-to-attend Water Philippines and RE EE Philippines Expert Dialogues, Technology Symposia and the comprehensive Energy Efficiency (EE) Conference by the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) with the theme “The New Energy Efficiency (EE) Law as Game Changer in the Philippines”.

Water Philippines 2019 and RE EE Philippines 2019 will be coinciding with the annual UN World Water Day and co-located with specialized events namely Pumps and Valves (P&V) Philippines and Pipes and Tubings (P&T) Philippines. It is supported by key associations including Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA), Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers (PSSE), Philippine Society of United Master Plumbers (PSUMP), Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2), Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines (REAP) and Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA).

Admission to the exhibition is free by pre-registering online at www.waterphilippinesexpo.com or www.renergyphilippines.com.

Water Philippines 2019 and RE EE Philippines 2019 are organised by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. Please visit www.ubm.com/asia for more information about our presence in Asia.
www.waterphilippinesexpo.com
www.renergyphilippines.com
SOURCE UBM Asia